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CRTF Seizes Over 1,500 Kilograms of Tobacco in One Week

CORNWALL, ON, Aug. 11, 2016 /CNW/ - On August 4th, 2016, the Cornwall Regional Task Force (CRTF) while conducting surveillance on the St-Lawrence River near the Ontario-Quebec border observed a boat coming from the Lancaster area traveling eastbound and which came ashore near Rivière-Beaudette, Quebec. Two boat occupants were observed unloading what was believed to be garbage bags of fine cut tobacco onto the shore. Subsequently, two other individuals were observed loading the garbage bags into a 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette mini-van. Police attended the scene and arrested the parties who had been seen loading the mini-van. The boat and its occupants had already left the area. Charges are pending for the individuals that were arrested, under the provisions of the Excise Act, 2001. The individuals involved in this matter cannot be named as the charges have not yet been deposed in court. The mini-van and 693 kilograms of fine cut tobacco were seized.

On the morning of August 7th, members of the CRTF attended the shoreline of South Glengarry at Whimpy's Marina in Summerstown, Ontario where they observed a 2015 Ford F-250 truck pulling into Whimpy's marina. Shortly after the vehicle departed with two persons on board heading eastbound on county road #2 with a trailer and boat (Pontoon) in tow, a marked OPP unit initiated a traffic stop near Fraser Point. Upon further investigation a total of 400 clear plastic bags containing contraband fine tobacco, weighing 878 kilograms and 12 plastic bags containing 4 kilograms of cherry pipe tobacco were found concealed within the pontoon boat. The contraband tobacco was secreted underneath the floor of the pontoon boat's deck. The truck, trailer, pontoon boat and contraband tobacco were seized. Donat Beaupre, 55, from Les Coteaux, Quebec and Erickson Beaupre-Preval, 23, from Montreal Nord, Quebec were charged for possession of fine cut tobacco under the provisions of the Excise Act, 2001. Both men also face charges under the provincial Tobacco Tax Act for possession of unmarked cigarettes. Beaupre-Preval is scheduled to appear at the Cornwall Provincial court on September 27, 2016. Donat Beaupre is scheduled to appear in court on October 12, 2016 in Alexandria, Ontario.

"The CRTF will continue to hold a strong presence along our borders in an effort towards making our communities safer," said Insp. Paul Mellon, acting RCMP North East District Commander for Ontario.

If you have any information regarding this crime or any other criminal activity in your area, please contact your local police service or reach out to an investigator with the CRTF at 1-613-937-2800 or 1-800-387-0020.

The CRTF is a joint forces partnership that includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.